Women

ASHA Workers Announce Indefinite Strike from 1 December 2018 to Demand Government Employee Status and Rs 18,000 Honorarium

WHILE an All India protest is planned on 19 November in Delhi on various demands of mid-day meal workers by left trade unions, the Rasoiya Sangh in Jharkhand has been protesting since 25 December for their 15-point demands. They have suffered brutal lathi charge during their gherao of the Chief Minister’s house, and jammed Ranchi roads for hours, but the Raghubar Das government has shown no positive attitude towards their demands. On 29 October the Rasoiya Sangh once again jammed the Kishori Yadav Chowk at Ratu Road, Ranchi from 9 am onwards.

AIPWA President Rati Rao visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 27-29 September and held meetings with women who have been organising against spousal desertion and domestic violence under the banner of the ‘Mahila Suraksha Sangathan, A&N Islands’.

S Anandi of the Mahila Suraksha Sangathan, NKP Nair of the CPI(ML), as well as Comrade Rati Rao met with many victims of desertion and domestic violence, and also met various authorities to demand justice and support for the affected women.

RASOIYAS (mid-day meal workers) held a 5-day strike and a 2-day Mahadharna in Patna under the banner of the Bihar State School Rasoiya Sangh (AICCTU) for 23 demands, including: government employee status for Rasoiyas; equal pay for equal work; Rs 18000 honorarium; stop handing over mid-day meal scheme to NGOs; Rasoiyas must get benefits of Ashok Chaudhury Committee recommendations; stop calling Rasoiyas part-time workers; timely and regular payment of honorarium and honorarium for all 12 months of the year.

Last year the whole country stood by the BHU women students who were protesting the Administration’s apathy towards sexual harassment, and its imposition of discriminatory and misogynist rules on women students and residents of women’s hostels. BHU students, men and women both, have protested peacefully on many occasions, demanding 24/7 library facilities for all students and equality and safety for women students. Under pressure, the then BHU VC was sent on long leave and the first woman Chief Proctor in BHU’s history was appointed.